dead men
noun1
Plural normally Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see dead, men.
2
Nautical, Transport Plural normally The ends of reefs left flapping instead of being tucked out of sight when a sail has been furled.
3
US, Informal, Plural normally The gills of edible crabs.
- Remove eyes, dead men (gills), and sand sack if necessary.1992 April 26, Nathalie Dupree, “A craving for crabs”, in The Record, Bergen County, NJ, page F1:
- “I call these the lungs,” says Colleton, pointing to the gills with the dripping, short-handled knife. “The old people call them ‘dead men.’”2003 September 26, Michael Gartland, “Drought Forces Awendaw, S.C., Crab Festival to Import from Louisiana”, in Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, page 1:
1 more example
- Once the shell is off, the crab’s gills or lungs, variously called “devil’s fingers” or “dead men” are exposed. These are gray-white, feathery-looking parts that are inedible and must be scraped off and thrown away.2007 August 3, John Geiser, “Take rusties over jimmies when hunting for good-eatin’ crabs”, in Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, New Jersey: